Untangling the Emotional Intelligence-Suicidal Ideation Connection: The Role of Cognitive Emotion Regulation Strategies in Adolescents
Metadata
Show full item recordEditorial
MDPI
Materia
Emotion regulation strategies Emotional intelligence Suicide risk Adolescence
Date
2020Referencia bibliográfica
Quintana-Orts, C.; Mérida-López, S.; Rey, L.; Neto, F.; Extremera, N. Untangling the Emotional Intelligence-Suicidal Ideation Connection: The Role of Cognitive Emotion Regulation Strategies in Adolescents. J. Clin. Med. 2020, 9, 3116. https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm9103116
Sponsorship
University of Malaga; PAIDI Group CTS-1048; Junta de Andalucia/FEDER funds UMA 18-FEDERJA-147Abstract
Though contemporary scientific literature addressing the links between emotional
intelligence (EI) and suicidal ideation in adolescents is scarce, one of the potential proposed pathways
through which EI may reduce the risk of suicidal ideation involves its relationship with the use of
adaptive coping strategies. The aim of this research is to provide support for an empirical pathway that
proposes that the effects of EI on suicide risk may follow an indirect pathway, involving maladaptive
and adaptive cognitive emotion regulation strategies, using both cross-sectional and prospective
design in two independent studies with Spanish adolescents. The sample of Study 1 consisted of
1824 students (52.4% female; mean age 14.55 years). In Study 2, 796 adolescents (54.4% female;
mean age 13.76 years) filled out the measures twice, four months later. The results confirmed a
positive association between EI and adaptive cognitive emotion regulation strategies and a negative
link with suicidal ideation. As expected, the results showed that both cross-sectionally (Study 1) and
prospectively (Study 2) EI predicted lower suicidal ideation. Bootstrap mediation analysis indicated
that only adaptive cognitive emotion regulation strategies partially mediated the link between EI and
suicidal ideation both cross-sectionally and prospectively. Together, those adolescents who showed
higher EI were more likely to report more adaptive cognitive emotion regulation, which in turn
predicted lower levels of suicidal ideation. Our findings suggest possible avenues for prevention and
intervention efforts aimed at boosting emotional abilities and developing adaptive coping strategies
among adolescents who are at elevated suicide risk.